Traitor's Head Volcano
Updated: Jul 3, 2025 20:41 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Vanuatu, -18.75°S / 169.23°E 
Summit height: 837 m / 2,746 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
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Traitor's Head volcano eruptions: 1881
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
The Traitor's Head Peninsula north of Cook Bay on eastern Erromango Island is comprised of three Holocene volcanic cones that are the youngest on the 50-km-long island. Mounts Rantop, Nagat, and Oulenou are small basaltic-to-andesitic stratovolcanoes with well-preserved morphologies. Mount Rantop is the largest, rising to 837 m, and 421-m-high Mount Oulenou is the most youthful looking, with an unbreached crater. A low plateau to the NW is underlain by ash deposits distributed by southeasterly trade winds. The volcanoes initially formed an offshore island that was joined to the mainland by uplift after volcanism ceased. A submarine vent offshore between the tip of the peninsula and Goat Island, 5 km to the NE, erupted in 1881, the only historical activity of the Erromango volcanoes.---
Smithsonian / GVP volcano information
Significant volcanic eruptions: Traitor's Head volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Traitor's Head has had only one confirmed historic eruption in 1881.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1959 from Traitor's Head volcano.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1959 from Traitor's Head volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Traitor's Head volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Traitor's Head can be found on the news page of Traitor's Head volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
| NE flank submarine vent Historical obs./docs. | 0 | ||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Traitor's Head Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Traitor's Head volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Traitor's Head occurred in 1881.
+How often does Traitor's Head volcano erupt?
Since 1881, Traitor's Head volcano has had at least 1 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 144 years.
Latest satellite images
Traitor's Head Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Traitor's Head volcano (scale of few kilometers)
